Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson, center, is tackled by Green Bay Packers outside linebacker Kyler Fackrell, left, during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016, in Minneapolis. Peterson was injured on the play and was helped off the field. (AP Photo/Andy Clayton-King)

Some Vikings players don’t want to believe Adrian Peterson will be out for an extended period.

The running back had surgery Thursday to repair a torn lateral meniscus in his right knee suffered last Sunday against Green Bay. While the Vikings did not give a timetable for how long Peterson will be sidelined, doctors who have performed similar surgeries on pro athletes have speculated it will be at least three to four months

“That’s Purple Jesus,’’ said wide receiver Cordarelle Patterson. “You never know with him. I expect him to come in tomorrow if things work out.’’

Peterson has a history of healing fast. He suffered a torn ACL in December 2011 and returned the next season to rush for 2,097 yards, the second-most in NFL history.

Vikings coach Mike Zimmer said he doesn’t know how long Peterson will be out, but acknowledged he “would guess” it’s for months rather than weeks.

The Vikings called the surgery “successful” that was performed by Dr. Chris Larson at Twin Cities Orthopedics, and said he found no additional injuries or issues in or surrounding the knee joint. The Vikings said the rehabilitation process will begin immediately.

Peterson will be replaced in the lineup Sunday at Carolina by Jerick McKinnon, who also was holding out hope Thursday that the seven-time Pro Bowl selection will come back earlier than anticipated.

“We’ve seen it before,’’ McKinnon said. “I wish him the best, fast recovery. … We got to hold down the fort until he comes back.’’

Peterson, 31, told ESPN on Wednesday he suffered a “bucket handle tear,” which is more severe than a typical meniscus tear. Dr. Derek Ochiai, of the Nirschl Orthopedic Center in Arlington, Va., said Thursday he is taking into account Peterson’s history of healing fast when he projects he will be out a minimum of three to four months.

“You look at how quickly he returned from an ACL, but I don’t think it will be any quicker than three to four months,’’ said Ochiai, an orthopedic surgeon who has performed surgeries on pro athletes with meniscus tears. “Every individual is different. (NBA guard) Derrick Rose had surgery on his meniscus (in November 2013) and was out the (rest of the) season.’’

The Vikings conclude the regular season Jan. 1. The NFL season ends with Super Bowl LI in Houston on Feb. 5.

Regardless of whether Peterson can return this season, his college coach, Oklahoma’s Bob Stoops, expects he will bounce back strong.

“I feel horrible for him,’’ Stoops told the Pioneer Press. “It’s unfortunate that these things happen but if anybody can overcome it, he’s the guy. I think he still has a lot of years left in him because of how powerful and strong he is.’’

Stoops saw the Peterson at the Sooners’ Sept. 3 opener at Houston.

“I just saw him a couple of weeks ago and he looked as fit and strong as he ever has,’’ Stoops said. “I still believe he’s got time and a lot of yards in him.’’

For now, McKinnon, a third-year man, will take over for the Vikings. He will get support from Matt Asiata and perhaps from Ronnie Hillman, who was signed Wednesday.

McKinnon and Asiata split the load in 2014 when Peterson missed the final 15 games because of a child-abuse incident. Asiata ran for 570 yards and McKinnon for 538 despite missing the final five games because of a back injury.

“I don’t think anybody has butterflies,’’ McKinnon said. “We were well prepared two years ago, me and Matt. We’re in the same type of situation.’’

Zimmer said the Vikings “are not really going to change much” offensively with Peterson out. That was echoed by offensive coordinator Norv Turner.

“We’re always going to strive for balance,’’ Turner said. “We need to be able to execute. … We’ve been in this situation a couple of years ago and Matt and Jerick, before he was injured, did a lot of good things. They’re two years older.’’

The Vikings have not made a roster move on Peterson. They could place him on injured reserve and designate him to return later in the season after he has missed at least eight weeks.

In previous seasons, a player put on injured reserve with a designation to return, had to be named immediately, but that rule was changed this year. Teams now can wait before providing a name, but only can place one player per season on that list.

Chris joined the Pioneer Press in 2013 to cover the Vikings. He was a longtime NBA writer with the Akron Beacon Journal, Rocky Mountain News and AOL FanHouse. Before coming to Minnesota, he covered the Miami Heat and Dolphins for Fox Sports. Chris has won six awards in the past three Pro Football Writers of America contests. Chris is a graduate of Northwestern University, where he spent his college years watching the losingest team in the history of Division I-A football.

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